Report: 'Very Realistic' Chip Kelly Could Be Fired as UCLA HC After USC Game

Chip Kelly's time with the UCLA Bruins will reportedly soon come to an end.

It's "very realistic" that UCLA will fire Kelly following a matchup against the USC Trojans on Saturday, according to Tracy Pierson of 247Sports. However, his firing "could be delayed until after the Cal game" if the Bruins win Saturday's matchup, Pierson added.

Pierson added:

"From what I've learned, a significant factor to dimiss Kelly was the perceived lack of a viable path forward as UCLA heads into the Big Ten in 2024. Kelly has little support from donors, especially in terms of NIL donations, which has now become the life blood of any college football program and its recruiting. In fact, from what I know, many UCLA donors have chosen not to donate to UCLA's football NIL fund as long as Kelly is the UCLA head coach."

Kelly has been head coach of the Bruins since 2018, posting a 33-33 record over his six seasons at the helm. And while UCLA is 6-4 entering this Saturday's game against USC, there's little hope for the team to overcome Caleb Williams and the Trojans.

Kelly's squad has only secured a bowl game once, which came during the 2022 campaign when it lost the Sun Bowl to Pittsburgh, and they have never truly competed for the Pac-12 title.

UCLA's 2023 football schedule is believed to be one of the easiest in recent program history, but the Bruins have posted unacceptable back-to-back losses to Arizona and Arizona State, furthering the indication that a new head coach is needed.

With the Bruins slated for a move to a much more difficult Big Ten in 2024, it's no surprise the program may be looking for a new voice as it enters a new era.

That said, UCLA's potential opening could be much more attractive to candidates given their change of conference.